Matthew Corbett

Matthew Corbett (born Peter Graham Corbett on 28 March 1948) is an English former actor, singer, comedian, magician, puppeteer, television presenter, and writer, best known for presenting The Sooty Show and later Sooty and Co. He is the son of Sooty's creator, Harry Corbett, and took over the show from his father in 1976. He retired in 1998.

Career Peter Graham Corbett was born in Guiseley, West Riding of Yorkshire, on 28 March 1948. In the late 1960s he had to choose another name when joining the performing arts trade union Equity, as there was already a Peter Corbett registered. He kept his surname and chose to go by the first name Matthew, retaining the name throughout his television career. and was a regular performer in the Thames Television children's show Rainbow, where he sang and performed and wrote with Rod Burton and Jane Tucker as Rod, Matt and Jane; after he left they eventually became Rod, Jane and Freddy.

In 1976, Corbett left Rainbow to take over The Sooty Show from his father Harry, who was retiring (he made a special guest appearance on Rainbow with Sooty in the episodes "1000th Birthday Party" and "The VIP"). Corbett retired in 1998 after 22 years, and chose Richard Cadell to replace him.

In January 2008, he reappeared on television, presenting Locks and Quays, a regional interest program shown in the ITV Granada area (North West England), featuring a journey from the east to the west coast of England, along waterways such as the Humber estuary, the Aire and Calder Navigation and the Leeds and Liverpool Canal.

Personal life Corbett's great-uncle was the fish and chip shop chain owner Harry Ramsden.

As of 2020, he stated he and his wife planned to reside in a retirement village in Horsham, West Sussex.

Filmography Year Title Role Notes 1971 Doctor Who Jones Episode: The Dæmons 1971–1992 The Sooty Show Himself/Presenter 127 episodes; also writer 1972 Pardon My Genie Waiter 1 episode 1974–1976, 1986, 1990 Rainbow Himself 148 episodes (Main) 2 episodes (Guest) 1993–1998 Sooty & Co. Himself/Presenter 90 episodes; also writer and producer 1998 Blue Heelers Dion Cameron 1 episode 2011 Sooty Himself 1 episode